FCP Euro Lifetime Replacement Guarantee Update

[Maxima SE]

If you bought a part in 2020, replaced it in 12/2022, and then want to replace it again in 2024, I think that 3rd purchase would not get refunded, despite you originally buying the part before this policy change. Hopefully, their current policy covers your 12/2022 purchase because it's referring to the original purchase in 2020 as being "grandfathered in."

My gripe is that original purchases prior to 11/1/22 should always be refunded as that was the rule then, and my reason for buying, from FCPeuro, paying extra esp back then.

Mike, you make a great point about NLA parts.

It should get refunded because you will provide them the order number for the original purchase made in 2020. That will always be the order that gets you the lifetime warranty. Everything else will be “replacements”. I think legally it will be hard for them to change the policy for purchases before October 2022.

And yeah the NLA is inevitable. I got a lot of trim pieces through FCP but I know many of them will be NLA before I will ever need to replace them. Gave them more money up front for no reason but I don’t regret it. I certainly won’t buy interior pieces from them anymore since they will charge you the difference. The euro trey for example used to be like $30. Now it is $130. In two years it will probably be $250. Warranty or not I’m just not gonna spend that kinda money on these items.

[George Hill]

If you bought a part in 2020, replaced it in 12/2022, and then want to replace it again in 2024, I think that 3rd purchase would not get refunded, despite you originally buying the part before this policy change. Hopefully, their current policy covers your 12/2022 purchase because it's referring to the original purchase in 2020 as being "grandfathered in."

My gripe is that original purchases prior to 11/1/22 should always be refunded as that was the rule then, and my reason for buying, from FCPeuro, paying extra esp back then.

Hmm, that is a solid point, I looked at it like you were warrantying the part from 2020 even if in 2024. IF they go about it the same way you stated above then yes I agree with you.

[Tbonem3]

If you bought a part in 2020, replaced it in 12/2022, and then want to replace it again in 2024, I think that 3rd purchase would not get refunded, despite you originally buying the part before this policy change. Hopefully, their current policy covers your 12/2022 purchase because it's referring to the original purchase in 2020 as being "grandfathered in."

My gripe is that original purchases prior to 11/1/22 should always be refunded as that was the rule then, and my reason for buying, from FCPeuro, paying extra esp back then.

Mike, you make a great point about NLA parts.

[Maxima SE]

My understanding is that what you are stating IS STILL IN PLAY for purchases prior to 11/1/22.

For now... I think they are going to test waters and see how people adapt to the new changes. Maybe one day they will have another update that applies the same policy to grandfathered purchases. But that can easily lead itself to a big lawsuit because they have to honor whatever policy was in effect at the time the item was purchased. That is where the fine prints come into play.

[George Hill]

I thought it was clear earlier, but I'll rephrase:

If you bought a part in the past, with the promise that you'd be able to replace it for free (basically free/less shipping), then you should always be able to.

My understanding is that what you are stating IS STILL IN PLAY for purchases prior to 11/1/22.

[dukeofchen]

I for one am just glad that the program exists even in revised form. With 180k miles and no plans to ever sell, there will always be things to use store credit on. And money saved on wear items and fluids means more money for my poor ass to refresh / replace other things.

I imagine the effects of inflation played no small part in the policy change, with them replacing more and more items that now cost significantly more than the original sale.

FCP customer service has always been fantastic, so unless the price differences are drastic I never hesitate to buy from them. Plus shipping times to CA are pretty good these days now that they have fulfillment centers online closer to the west coast.

For those bummed about paypal killing the return shipping perk look at sites like pirateship for discounted rates.

[PetrolM3]

Sure, I acknowledge some of the arguments made here but whether we admit it or not, it was too good to be true and it still is. People get spoiled and then they have high expectations. I doubt anyone here would have been better off buying elsewhere all these years. Anyone who kept buying from them clearly enjoyed the benefits enough to justify continuing to buy from them. You can’t seriously tell me you expected this to work forever? The first thing I thought is.. it’s too good to be true but enjoy it while it lasts. Let’s give fcp some credit for trying out the model and following through as much as they could. And I’ll say it again - most people will still buy from them, guaranteed…

[Maxima SE]

Well they have enough people buying from them now so they need to rewrite the rules. These updates are enough for me to not buy anything from them anymore. It is no longer a "lifetime replacement" when you have to pay more money to exchange an item under warranty just because the item costs more now than it did when you bought it. Think about it, if you go to any local auto parts store you will never have to pay more money to exchange a starter, alternator etc under a lifetime warranty. It is an even exchange with nothing out of your pocket.

Between paying more for an item up front, paying more again when you exchange it and paying for return shipping as well, its not even worth shopping from them anymore in many instances. For example, the Valeo starter goes for $160 at rock auto and $216 at FCP. That is a whopping $56 difference up front to spend just in case it goes bad, if it ever does in the next decade? and if it does then pay $40 more and $30 in return shipping? Might as well buy two starters now and sell one in a decade if you dont end up using it.

and the stuff that you can only get from BMW will go NLA sooner or later anyways so who cares about lifetime warranty on floor mats or window trim? might as well start hoarding them.

Btw hundreds to thousands of dollars in store credit? at this rate all your money is going to FCP in hopes of a lifetime warranty in god knows how long from now.

[Tbonem3]

okay, you are a d***, jesus christ man. Wake up on the wrong side of the sofa today?

It was so predictable. Partly, I was mad at myself for not leaving in a blurb I had written aimed at stopping you from bothering with that non-sense. Doubt it would have had the intended effect anyway.

[Tbonem3]

I'm neither surprised nor bothered by this change that they made for business reasons, except for the implications this has for previously purchased items (under the former "rules").

[Icecream]

In an earlier post, I was going to pre-emptively stop you, but I didn't bother, and now I'm having to respond to this anticipated non-sense.

Ever heard of logical fallacies? It's rhetorical. I don't care for a response. If you were sharp enough to see the uselessness of your post, I'd wager you would have been smart enough to stop yourself from posting it.

okay, you are a d***, jesus christ man. Wake up on the wrong side of the sofa today?

[Icecream]

. No, I'm not talking about being grandfathered in just as a good customer with significant history. I'm arguing that prior purchases, under the rules at the time, should be "grandfathered" in (beyond just the first replacement).
.

Okay, I do agree with this and I think they will honor it. I kind of expected all this to happen so I'm just not surprised. Actually I am surprised it took them this long.

[Tbonem3]

Show me another company, not on earth but this entire galaxy, that warranties oil and consumables. That alone more than makes up for whatever miniscule amount you are talking about here. I warrantied a set of brake pads, multiple oil changes and could, if I wanted, send back my clutch with 10k miles on it and get a replacement if I didn't want to just reset the sac mechanism (I felt really guilty about that so I am going to attempt resetting the mechanism haha). I also improperly torqued 12 rod bolts (in my defense it was the incorrect spec FCP posted lol) but without hesitation they did a warranty return on those as well, over $100 in bolts they just comp'ed. They also gave me store credit for a window seal I purchased years ago among a few other parts in my stash that I didn't end up needing and sat in my garage. How can you be upset? You are still coming out ahead.

In an earlier post, I was going to pre-emptively stop you, but I didn't bother, and now I'm having to respond to this anticipated non-sense.

Ever heard of logical fallacies? It's rhetorical. I don't care for a response. If you were sharp enough to see the uselessness of your post, I'd wager you would have been smart enough to stop yourself from posting it.

[Tbonem3]

Well those are 2 different statements you've made, not opposites, so I'm not sure what you're really asking.

I thought it was clear earlier, but I'll rephrase:

If you bought a part in the past, with the promise that you'd be able to replace it for free (basically free/less shipping), then you should always be able to. I'm not talking about new purchases after this point. No, I'm not talking about being grandfathered in just as a good customer with significant history. I'm arguing that prior purchases, under the rules at the time, should be "grandfathered" in (beyond just the first replacement).

FCP has basically lost my business for future purchases (unless they have the best price/in stock). I'm now arguing solely for replacement of parts that I already purchased in the past.

Paypal doing away with free return shipping at the same time is a double whammy, though not a deal breaker on its own as it wasn't even a well known perk (or maybe didn't even exist) back in 2014 when I started buying from FCP.

[Icecream]

I like you guys get to decide if this is an issue for people or not. 🙄

I've been using FCP longer than both of you combined. I've replaced everything on my car. No, I don't want store credit since there's nothing left to buy for my car. I simply want to replace the parts.

I'm not looking to get original $ back, just the $ spent to replace a warranty part.

It also makes no sense to only credit the amount of the part as it cost when you originally bought it. I'm not looking for that $ back - I want the $ back that was spent to purchase the replacement part.

The goal should be to not spend any money (less shipping costs, maybe tax) in order to get a replacement.

It is no longer true to call it warranty or replacement or any of these phrases. I bought all these parts wit the understanding that I'd be able to replace them for free in the future. Now, you must spend money (more due to inflation/rising costs) to replace the part, and you don't get that money back.

I understand/accept that store credit will suffice for some people, but it does not for me.

*Or at least grandfather in the parts purchased before 11/1/22 and I mean not just the first replacement, but subsequent.

Show me another company, not on earth but this entire galaxy, that warranties oil and consumables. That alone more than makes up for whatever miniscule amount you are talking about here. I warrantied a set of brake pads, multiple oil changes and could, if I wanted, send back my clutch with 10k miles on it and get a replacement if I didn't want to just reset the sac mechanism (I felt really guilty about that so I am going to attempt resetting the mechanism haha). I also improperly torqued 12 rod bolts (in my defense it was the incorrect spec FCP posted lol) but without hesitation they did a warranty return on those as well, over $100 in bolts they just comp'ed. They also gave me store credit for a window seal I purchased years ago among a few other parts in my stash that I didn't end up needing and sat in my garage. How can you be upset? You are still coming out ahead.